Cory Booker ‘excited’ to officiate gay marriages

New Jersey Sen.-elect Cory Booker will officiate some of the first gay marriages in New Jersey early Monday morning, his office in Newark announced Friday.

“Mayor Booker has refused all requests to officiate New Jersey marriages because gay couples have been denied that equal right. After today’s wonderful news, Mayor Booker is excited to marry both straight and gay couples in City Hall on Monday morning beginning at 12:01 a.m.,” said Booker spokesperson James Allen in a written statement out Friday.

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Booker’s statement comes after the delay request was rejected by the Supreme Court, which will hear the appeal in January. Gay marriages can be performed in the state beginning Monday, according to the decision.

Weeks ago, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson ruled in favor of granting an emergency marriage request by six same-sex couples, setting the stage for same-sex marriages to be performed in the state. Following the decision, Gov. Chris Christie’s office appealed the ruling and requested that same-sex marriages be delayed during the appeals process. On Friday, Christie said he would comply with the judge’s ruling, the Associated Press reported.